Disclaimer: Fairytail and its characters belong to the amazing manga artist Hiro Mashima. I own nothing but this plot.
Summary: This is a tale of a dragon and his captive princess. Their story might have been told so many times that some might have even forgotten that the real prisoner was in fact – the dragon himself. For even when the princess was imprisoned in the highest tower, the dragon was enslaved to her every call and bidding. He wouldn't have it any other way though, the dragon had surrendered willingly – for it promises sweet torture to those who yield.
"You know when I said I knew little about love? That wasn't true. I know a lot about love.
I've seen it, centuries and centuries of it, and it was the only thing that made watching your world bearable.
All those wars. Pain, lies, hate. It made me want to turn away and never look down again. But when I see the way that mankind loves, you could search to the furthest reaches of the universe and never find anything more beautiful..."
-Stardust, 2007
The Black Iron Dragon – Kurogane Gajeel…
Only one had to hear that name and it was enough even to frighten even the most courageous of souls.
He was a mythical creature – a gruesome beast. Dark, powerful, terrifying even beyond what any mortal could ever comprehend. He was the infamous beast even his own kind had feared…
Therefore it was a wonder how this notorious warrior ended up resting his head in a nymph's lap . A nymph whose size didn't reach even half of his imposing height. One moment, she was furious at him for calling her names pertaining to her height, throwing every imaginable object she could grasp. He was glad he removed Pantherlily from her arms. The next thing he knew , he found his head cradled on the soft expanse of creamy white thighs as she nursed him –frantically apologizing and asking if being hit by a thick encyclopedia hurts.
The fuck-? Of course it does!
Strangely though, her touch did nothing but bring chaos to his already throbbing head.
"Uh-uhmm… Gajeel? S-sorry…" Her timid voice reached his ears, feeling bewildered as he had never heard his name rolled out of a maiden's lips. A hand, soft and delicate, traveled through the expanse of his thick hair, disturbing his train of thoughts.
It was weird… Yet he didn't know why he wanted her to repeat his name again, why he wanted to revel in the pleasure of feeling those hands massage his aching scalp. His eyes shot open as he caught himself almost giving in to her vile sorcery.
"Apologizing for your wicked enchantments, are you, witch?" he taunted.
Lips set in a grim line before all concern and anxiety was wiped out of her face. Frustrated, she abruptly shoved his head from her lap and stood up to her full mediocre height. Head held high, she walk resolutely away from him with all the dignity she could muster. A streak of tear escaped her eyes but she wouldn't let the dragon have the satisfaction of seeing her crumble.
" Stand still, maiden." His voice held this distinctive authority that if she didn't yield to his wish, she will suffer the consequence. She smelled like the forest - and of blood… He didn't need to see any trails of mortal blood to know it was coming from her.
Nevertheless, Levy didn't turn around, ignoring him… walking further away from HIM.
"YOU STAND STILL!" Gajeel roared not quiet used to anyone disobeying his words.
"I take orders from NO MAN!" she whirled to face him. "I maybe held captive but NEVER will I be yours to command!"
Raising her head high, Gajeel saw a defiant glint in her eyes. This is a face of a warrior proud and unyielding even if she was held imprisoned in the enemy's lair.
Damn, he found himself unable to retort back. The dragon was rooted on the spot – a sense of disbelief and a bit of admiration rendered him speechless. Then his lips morphed into smile- a disturbing morbid smile. So that's how she wants this dispute to be settled.
"If I make you mine right now," Came the deep baritone voice. "Would you do as I say?"
It was then she saw him standing up, his form daunting and formidable. Her bravado instantly dissipated replace with unadulterated horror of the underlying meaning behind his words.
Frightened, she staggered back, wondering if she had crossed the line. Levy spun on her heels, hastening her every step despite the pain it took to move her feet forward. She planned to get away from this pitch black room – away from this odious beast. Before she could reach the door, a pair of strong arms held her captive, roughly carrying her back to the elevated chamber. She didn't even realize that while he held her in his vice grip, he was cautious with her bruised feet.
"Lily, bring a bucket of clean water a roll of bandage for her feet… and her mouth." Seeing the horrified expression was enough to make him grin– promising her of all the possibilities he could do to her if she dared to defy his words once more.
The panther was about to protest when he saw the serious look on his comrade's face. He flew away, trusting his comrade wouldn't lay a finger on the girl.
"Unhand me this moment, you – you vile tempered…! Y-You vexing, horrible, manipulative –"
"-Spiteful, hideous sonofabitch." He finished it for her. "Did I miss something?"
"Yes! You forgot the word brute!"
Ohoh~ he thought pleased that his rough callous manner of speaking was clearly rubbing off on her.
"Imp!"
"Jerk!"
"Shrimp!"
A growl emitted from her realizing she was running out of words to call him. She wouldn't let the dragon have the last words on their banter!
"B-Beast! Uhm – No!" Eyes widened in mortification before she profusely apologize. "Sorry. I didn't mean it that way. What I mean was – "
"Why princess…" the lilt in his deep voice told her she only succeeded in amusing him. " I already know that I'm a gruesome beast. Perhaps you could come up with a more-offensive pet name for me next time."
How dare this dragon insult her intellect! Levy was proficient in hundreds of language, even the ancient forbidden ones. Give her foreign words and she could decode it in less than hour. Yet for the life of her, she couldn't bring herself to utter even a single word of curse!
Gajeel couldn't help but smile. His nemesis had called him a mouthful of curses and profanities, some even swore on their deathbeds and worse others had wished him to rot in the deepest pits of hell – while all of those sounds condemning, these words coming from her sounded more like…
… An endearment rather than a threat.
Levy had enough! For only a day, her life had turned upside down. "B-bring me down! You dreadful metal scrap of a dragon!"
It did wonders on his immense ego, actually. They had just met for only a day and she already had another fucking pet name for him.
Pffttt~she was absolutely endearing.
"I'll have you know I'm absolutely capable of-"
"- keeping your mouth shut for the next three seconds or else I'll be forced to kiss you right here on this very bed." His voice was frighteningly calm. She was tempted to defy him but the glint on his crimson eyes assured her that he was intent on doing that. That kept her mouth shut.
Just as he laid her on those rumpled silken sheets, a delicate bloodied foot came in contact with his face. He shot one incredulous crimson eye opened…
.
..
…
Before all fucking hell broke loose.
"She's not dead! I refuse to believe it until we find her body!" a man in a top hat vehemently cried, his boots tattered from running throughout Magnolia. His friends were with him , there in the middle of the rain, drenched, tired, and frustrated yet they refuse to give up until they find a clue where their dear friend was abducted.
"I say we looked for the Phantom Guild! " and before the others cheered in agreement, they heard a lone footstep belonging to their enemy.
"Pitter. Patter…"
Some of them took a fighting stance recognizing her as one of the element four. Yet the ice mage waved a hand to back them off – If they will be forced to fight her, he'll have to step in the front lines. After all, they both have the same type of magic.
"Why did you come here?" Gray Fullbuster, in all logical sense, should be repulsed, angry at her even – for having the audacity to show up after her guild destroyed their home. However he couldn't comprehend why he wanted to befriend her, to run and demand who the hell made her cry.
Blue eyes gazed at him with such sorrow it was hard not to look away. Gray could only stand there wishing he could do- something just to take away her grief. He always hated seeing women cry. That – and he concluded it was a waste to see her beauty marred by her tears.
"If Fairytail wishes to take out the Phantom lord," her voice shook. "Look no further – for Juvia's guild was already annihilated." As the woman broke down, the rain poured heavily as if it were her tears.
It was one thing to see an enemy defeated – but another matter to see one crumbled into hopelessness and despair. It took all his will to step forward deliberating if he should go to her but their guildmaster Makarov, had already rushed to her side comforting the rain woman like a protective parent would care for his child.
"It was annihilated -by the iron dragon." She whispered.
Alarmed, Makarov gently shook her. "What do you mean by the iron dragon? Child, I asked you, where is Levy?!"
Juvia whimpered, seeing how terrified this old man was for his child. How she would give anything up, just to feel what the blue haired fairy has- acceptance and a family.
"Juvia's guild was annihilated by the iron dragon. The maiden is alive, residing right now in the dragon's lair."A gasp came from the mages wondering how this creature was able to take down a dark guild for only one night.
Determined, she grasped the old man's tiny hands. "J-Juvia… Will you let Juvia help you? Juvia can track him down. Please~ Let Juvia retrieve the fairy back. " Her lips quivered, holding back her tears. She was prepared to be shunned just as she had experienced many times in her previous dark guilds but she have to try!
"Ju-Juvia only wants to make amends –"
Seeing her desperate plea, his heart went out to her. Makarov embraced her, her azure eyes widening in disbelief for never had she experienced someone held her close. "Hush… Juvia – is that your name? If you don't have any guild to go, you're welcome to be a member of fairytail."
It was then she felt a white coat gently lay on her shoulder. She looked up to see the black haired man in stood in all his naked glory – right in front of her.
Juvia didn't know what to do;blood rushed to her face she was sure she might faint on the spot. "a-aahmm.. I- Uh…"
"Just accept the coat. You need it more than I do." A tinge of blush was on his face – but it wasn't his face that made her heart palpitate. It was the brazen view of his chiseled body – carved and molded into perfection. Her breathe hitch; what a beautiful work of art he was!
The poor girl was already hyperventilating; her virgin eyes couldn't take the sight of this man before her.
Suddenly, a pink haired boy kicked the weird gorgeous exhibitionist from her view. "Look at what you did to her, you shameless bastard! The poor girl could hardly think!"
"Natsu~! Stopped it!"
The rain woman frozed. Natsu -The fire dragon? At that moment she appraised the other man. While he might be physically smaller than the Black Iron Dragon, the heat he's radiating was unmistakable.
This man might be their only hope to keep in par with the iron dragon.
While Makarov listened to her theories, his mind was already forming to send a search party. Hope surged through his old battered heart. The girl he considered as his own daughter was safe.
That's all that matters right now.
Levy is alive.
Yes. Freaking alive – kicking and screaming bloody murder as if there was no tomorrow.
The girl might be small but the impact of her foot crashing to his chin was strong enough to dislocate his jaw. Gajeel clenched his throbbing jaw before lunging at her form. It didn't deter the little minx, using her height – or lack of it- to easily escape him. Just as she was about to make a frantic grab from the post of the chamber, a hand grabbed her ankle making her tripped on the large silken sheets. The bed sheet covering her body has wrapped her legs in a way it made unable her to move. Undeterred, Levy twirled around; raising the tattered cloth to allow her to deliver a swift kick to his right arm – however, the positioned left her open and defenseless before this furious beast.
Before she knew it, this mysterious man was in front of her, pinning her on the bed. The cushion dipped invitingly with the added weight. The tattered sheet covering her nude form did nothing but tempt him to unveil the skin it covered.
His throat had gone dry by just imagining her exposed body beneath his. A body he thought could only be conjured in his wildest fantasies. Even cloth in tattered sheets, she was every man's dream- of all the unspoken desires a man could have crave for: beguiling, seductive yet she held a touch of innocence and purity. It took a moment before he realized her face was contorted into a glare- and he thought she couldn't look more beautiful with her cheeks puffed like an angry little sparrow.
That was until he felt a painful jerk on his abdomen that made him buckle up from the force. Oh, he knew all too well the pain she must have felt while using her feet to kick him sharply right in his ribs but she was adamant, even DESPERATE to even use her aching bloodied feet just to get away from him. While it wasn't physically a fatal blow, it bruised his ego how badly this girl wants to get out his hold.
Where will you go? " He all but growled like the monster he was. "You have not even escaped my territory and another vile creature was already chasing you!"
Despite their hostility to each other, he wouldn't let any man have her especially when she had already made a pact to be with him. How the fire ignited in her eyes, the rebellious way she held her chin despite her weakened situation – he hated to admit it but he was seriously growing fond of her.
"The nerve you call me a witch!" She spat in vile contempt.
For a disbelieving moment, he froze on the spot. This – this tirade was all because of him calling her a witch? That's it?
"Maybe, maybe if I wish to be born just like other normal civilians, then all this power, all this magic will come undone! No one would treat me this way. No one would accuse me of being a witch!"
Gone was the adamant fighter and in replace of her, lay a fragile girl – frightened, alone and helpless. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes yet she bravely held it back.
Both of them were granted with magic – which they thought of as a curse rather than a blessing. It was then he realized this girl lived a life no different from his.
His hold on her loosened. He kept his distance away from her, sitting on the marble floor with his back facing hers. A cold cruel rumbling of laughter escaped his lips. "That's where you're wrong …"
Seeing the books and bounds of paperbacks strewn across the floor, he decided to change her nickname. "…Bookworm."
She looked at him, surprised at the name he called her.
" - it's because you still believe in magic that you to have those abilities."
Before she could retort back, Lily came with a bucket of water. The panther let out a sigh of relief he didn't know he was holding as he saw the two had finally made at least a civilized conservation without threatening each other's life.
Or not… Pantherlily grimly thought, seeing the bed sheets rumpled drastically, levy's swollen feet bleeding and the foot print of blood evident on his partner's face. He didn't want to know half of what had transpired while he was gone.
As the man motioned for his comrade to settle it near the bed, he ordered him to buy some clothes small enough to fit her fragile form. The man would hear none of her protests and handed his panther some jewels enough to buy her a whole new apparel. He motioned for her to come nearer, his hands reaching slowly to grasp her feet.
Gajeel felt the woman hesitate. He cursed under his breath. Of course, she would be indecisive – after they had struggled across the bed, she had every right to be wary of him.
Damn it, he didn't know what to say! Raking a large hand through his hair, he let out a loud sigh. "Let me heal those battered feet… just like when you nursed my aching head. And heal my head once more! After you bloody slammed that delicate foot of yours on my face~!"
A small gasp followed by a restrained laughter was all her retort before she placed her feet in his large hand… they same way she unguardedly, even willingly placed her trust as well as her future to this man whose face she didn't even know.
The unexpected mixture of strength and care he held her injured feet made her surprise. Levy McGarden didn't know the dragon could be capable of such… gentleness. Glancing at the dainty legs he was holding, he eased them with great care into the lukewarm water.
As he held her right foot as if it were made of glass, she decided to tease him. "It won't break; you should know that by know. That's the same foot that smacked you right in your face."
He snorted in derision. "Thanks for consoling me."
It made her laugh. A beautiful tinkling sound that made him want to hear more of her mirth. A word materialized, glowing softly – and he turned his head to the opposite side to avoid her looks.
Levy didn't know why he refused to show his face. She though, it wouldn't matter if he had any deformations…
The faint light coming from her solid script enabled her to see those painful scars and blemishes that had marred those muscular arms. Here was a man hardened by countless of battles. Each wound a painful reminder of what had transpired in his life. No words were spoken, but she already knew the reason why the dragon would only come to her once the night had settled in.
Dimming the glow emitting from her solid script, she gently pushed the word near his swollen cheeks. "M-may I?"
He didn't budge; a single nod from him was all it took before she gently pressed the solid script "HEAL" near his face. As her magic worked its power, her breath hitched as this stranger unguardedly rested his face in the palm of her hands. The healing glow of her solid script had a calming effect on him. With his eyes closed in bliss, he relinquished in the pleasure of feeling her touch against his. He wouldn't mind having that fine dainty feet of hers smack right again his face.
It was a different story for the maiden. Levy expected to caress a roughly deformed face – not a smooth skin studded with metal piercings. Her musings was disrupted when a large began to caress her feet almost… lovingly. She shuddered, frightened by this new found sensation as she let a man touched her legs for the first time.
Nursing each other's wound, they lay there contented with each other's presence.
"A wizard?" He said after awhile.
Shaking her head she replied "Just a mage. A solid script mage…and an orphan… "
Closing his eyes, he gave a nod. " I guess that makes us the same then…"
Levy decided to open up a little, telling her yearnings as a child. "I have always asked for a family. It came true in the form of my loving guild."
"I asked for nothing… but this curse to lift off from me." came the odd reply.
It was then Gajeel felt her hands touched him alarmingly, seeking for any mark – any cursed seal on his face. He decided to tell the truth. " I am the result of a forbidden relationship- an offspring of mortal and a dragon."
At that moment her fingers felt those glinted scales along the corner of his jaw, on the side of his neck and near his dilated eyes. "My existence in this world may be a mistake. I shouldn't be even alive since –"
"Don't say that!" She cut him off, trying to perceive his face in the darkness of the night.
For a man who thinks he was nothing but a by-product of a taboo relationship- unwanted the day he was born, Levy didn't know, couldn't fathom how he was able to survive when he was forced to fend off for himself at such an early age.
"You should be grateful – your enchantments enable your wishes to come true…" He bitterly said after awhile. "Wizards like you were believed to possess such power enough to break this spell, to live a much better life with your simple wishes…" she felt rather than saw every tension building up inside him. From the way his shoulder stiffened to the rigid way he clenched he jaws…
His crimson eyes narrowed accusingly. "You may as well have the world at your feet with your enchantments, fairy…why wouldn't you want it when others have sought such powers?"
She bit her lips to keep from retorting. Much to her dismay, even the dragon was no different from the villagers. They anticipate a lot from her magic and her spells. Did she always need to live up to the expectations of people around her?
"I like to apologize for raising up your hopes...but contrary to your belief, I'm no wizard, nor am I a fairy as you think I am… "A twisted albeit sorrowful smile grazed her lips. "I'm just a script mage who loves nothing but to read and materialize her words - a 'witch' as others would have called me."
Her hands reach out through the dark and lifted his face as if touching him can figure out what her eyes were forbidden to witness. This was the first time a woman caressed him. "Tell me then, dragon, what would you have me wish to release you from this misery?"
Tilting his head, she gazed at him. The darkness offered no hint or silhouette of his face. Their lips barely an inch apart yet the dragon made no move. She drew in a deep breath, nervous and tense as she had never been close as this intimate position with any man before. "Would wishing for this curse to be remove let you live? Would kissing you take away the spell you wanted so badly to get rid off?"
With every stroke, every curve her fingers had touched, she realized this creature was no beast. He was no mythical creature conjured from her childish fantasies. This dark stranger in front of her was every inch of a man – warm and alive…
He felt his body go numb as those words he had never dreamed of hearing tumbled from those beautiful lips. "I once read in a fairytale, that a kiss is enough to break a spell -even the vilest of all curse."
"Don't~!" the moment he opened his mouth she silenced him by pressing her lips to those seemingly cold mouth of his. It was an exhilarating torment she imposed upon them both, as her hands caress his metal studded face and his lips captivatingly brushed against hers. Her lips parted before his, threatening to crumble the last of his will power. The maiden conquered his mouth in a fierce battle and all he could do was suck her sweet, invigorating tongue.
That damn tongue that tasted as sweet as honeysuckle yet as bitter as poison. That tongue powerful enough to materialize anything and everything her heart desires. That tongue that held the most damnable enchantment he'd ever felt.
"Gajeel…" she moaned and he lived in the thrill of excitement that her tongue claim possession of nothing …
Nothing ~ but only HIS name.
Grabbing a fistful of her locks, he struggled to absorb everything she has to offer in that single kiss. The bucket of water stumbled over as he dragged her lithe form close to his and laid her in the cold marble floor. Levy Mc garden tasted of innocence and purity. Her kiss was a short relief from the hell he live in – a feel of Heaven he would cherish for the rest of his life.
He drew out every ounce of pleasure in that heated kiss. Using only his mouth to coax her gently into accepting him. And with every rise and fall of her chest, every rhythmic heart beat – the beast within him felt it…
Relinquished it…
Desired it even…
As much as he want to drown in this new found desire, it ended all too soon for his liking. Levy gazed at him, her brown eyes looked deeply at him – searching, imploring if the kiss changed him even the slightest bit. When she received no response, she sighed.
"Have I already proven that I can't lift you from your accursed spell?"she asked – her voice wavering not out of fear but of mild disappointment. She touched his face; her mouth quivered in distress as her fingers still touched the coarse metal scales near his jaw.
A laugh- a frustrated broken laughed escaped her swollen lips. Was she so disillusioned she thought she could change anything? She couldn't even control her magic, much less stop herself from wishing… Wishing she could do something for this man.
Gajeel could only stare back at her as he came to a bitter realization that she was… actually right.
Her kiss did nothing.
NOTHING to soothe his soul or tame the turmoil of emotions raging inside him.
Because of the kiss, the beast within him awakened more it made him feral, wild and ravenous… enough to savagely mark her – to kiss her, to take her in wild abandoned pleasure...
The dragon knew he wouldn't be able to satiate his hunger with just a lingering caress, or a glance at the naive small frame of her body whenever she sleeps – he wanted so much MORE.
He wanted to brand her as his… to shield her from the world and took pleasure that NO ONE except him can lay his eyes or hands on her. Oh, he knew he was a greedy bastard but-
He abruptly stopped his line of thoughts. He needed to get out of here before he could even touch a single strand of her hair. Without a warning, he fled the room leaving a disappointed and mortified maiden all alone.
Author's notes: What kind of plot is this? Despite all his threat of kissing her or ravishing her, it was Levy, our feisty sprite, who initiated the first kiss!
And lol. I wouldn't save levy if I were Makarov. I think the one who needs saving is Gajeel.
Next chapter will be posted soon~! Here's a preview:
His eyes twitched at the morbid sight before him. What in the world was his cat thinking when he purchased that – that- that odious, yellow revolting clothes?! It did nothing to hide those beguiling legs …oh and that skirt only enhanced that ample curve of her -
STOP IT.
This was bad… considering the girl has already a short stature; the dress was ridiculously small even for her size!
"LILY…." He gritted through his clenched teeth.
"Why, I just took out your orders! You told me to pick the smallest one of them!" Lily defended.
"And what size would that be?"
"…XXS"
To all those who spent a little bit of their time to read and to all my reviewers: Have I ever told you guys i freakin love you so much?
Vampireninja101: Honey, thank you so much. I fear Gajeel doesn't know levy's name yet and they had already kissed. Lol. And thank you so much for every single review! You made me happy more than you'll ever know~!
Pall18: Oh stop talking like gajeel – I thought my heart would stop when I thought it actually gajeel demanding for the succeeding chapters. You almost give me hope that he is real!
Lucy Ashley from Fairytail: Lu-chan~! I think the preview i sent you was for the next chapter oooppsss…. And THANK YOU sooooo much for your support. I'm trying to stand back right now on my feet. This chapter with all its fanservice, is dedicated to you. (troll face)
Streetdanzer: Here as you have requested dear reader! I hope this chapter made you smile considering there's some fan service here.
Era – of-tearing rain: Here's the chapter. Sorry it took so long! I hope it's worth the wait!
Kristina: I just love your freaking review too!
Elie Lou: This chapter is for you! Thank you so much for my first EVER fan art! Seriously, if I could hug you right now, I'll glomp you and never let go~! Thank you so much. And for all the correction, thank you for giving time and pointing out my mistakes.
Aralys: Here's the chapter honey! Don't we love seeing gajeel act tsundere and jealous?
Shizuka: Ahaha… you want angst~?But I already get so much hate reviews in my other angst fanfic where I ruthlessly killed gajeel and I don't know it that is a bad thing. Hmm… But I'll keep in mind to include some little angst here and there. Please remind me when I will let Erza finish Gajeel in the future chapters. ^_^ ( I do love trolling with you guys.)
AngelKnightKaoru: Last chapter, you get Lilly purring. On this chapter, you'll get to see Gajeel moaning. Ohhhh lol~!
Pikinanouart: with your amazing skill in writing, I bet you can already make a bestseller! And you can buy as much as many bedchambers you want~! Make sure if you purchase one, there's some dragon designs on it!
VitaeCursus: Your reviews is one of my inspiration that made me continue to write!
Levina: You really really want a M rating? (ooh la la! Let me think about it!) sorry for teasing you. ^_^
Ulcaasi: THANK YOU telling me about Lily's love for Kiwis! I mean wow! You're a very keen observer to point out Lily's love for Kiwi in the manga. Mashima just recently show Lily's infatuation for kiwis in the anime and I was stupefied! Oh and yes, Gajeel is a European dragon. A descendant of a dragon race called : Draco Occidentalis Magnus. I'm not kidding! I based this from a book entitled Dragonology! ^_^
Thinkette: your writing has become one of my inspiration. Thank you sooo much!
Romantic Voltaire: I just want to say I miss you. Haha! This chapter is for you hon.
Daisukii08: Oooppsss… sorry for making an angst on the other story... Nope! I'm not even sorry! haha!
This chapter would not be finished without your constant support. ^_ ^ Thank you, thank you, thank you for your encouragement, your gentle nudge to keep me going and for allowing this author a chance to share her story with you.